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Compstall slip up in low-scoring affair

John Richards
4/ 6/2008

IT’S not often that a low-scoring game be described as riveting, but Saturday’s game between Hayfield and Compstall lived up to expectations of a top-of-the-table clash.

Compstall took first knock and opened with their usual pairing of David Bailey and Stewart Jackson against the Hayfield attack of father and son, Chris and Josh Unsworth.

However, it was the fielders who struck first, having the in-form Bailey run out for a duck without a run on the board.

Paul Needham was next to thecrease, and while he did not appear to be in trouble, he was not scoringruns and, with the score on 20, he lost patience and was bowled by Josh Unsworth.

Skipper Peter Richards joined Jackson and set about repairing thedamage, with both players playing a variety of shots until Richards was excellently caught behind by wicket keeper Sam Hudson off the bowling of Gareth Davies.

Unfortunately for Compstall Jackson fell in the next over to Chris Unsworth, his first victim in his 11th over.

Stuart Bass and Mark Richards took the score to 100, before Bass became Chris Unsworth’s second victim and Richards his third in the same manner.

A spirited knock by Andy Jackson took Compstall’s final total to 124 all out.

The Hayfield response started brightly with Shane Furniss and Dave Aldridge, who was unfortunately dropped early on.

A change in the bowling saw thefall of the first wicket as Mark Richards had Furniss caught off his first ball. Youngster Sam Markovic was next to strike, having Josh Unsworth LBW at 41 for 2.

Richards struck again, removing Davies and Matt Shelton in his first over, before removing the dangerous Aldridge.

When Shelton removed Dave Higginbottom, Peter Richards brought himself back into theattack and got rid of Matt Higginbottom and Ebbrell, but skipper Julian Burgess steered his side to victory, closing on 23 not out as Hayfield reached 125 for 7.

On Sunday, Compstall entertained Malpas in the regional semi-final of the National Village Cup.

In a match reduced to 30 overs, Compstall were invited to bat first and lost David Bailey and Paul Needham with only 36 on the board.

Peter Richards joined Stewart Jackson, who was looking in fine form. They plundered 125 runs in the next 14 overs, with Jackson the main perpetrator, before Richards was out for a fine 42. Jackson fell for a superb 119 and the Compstall innings closed on 222 for 4.

In reply Malpas had no answer to the Compstall bowling attack and collapsed to 100 all out with nothing of merit to report, other than the excellent bowling and fielding, with special mention going to youngster Sam Markovic and veteran Andy Jackson.

Compstall will now play away at Alvanley in the regional final on June 15.